Sports

AL: Error, 5-run ninth lift Yankees

Associated Press
Published August 28, 2005

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NEW YORK - The Yankees bounded out of their dugout, celebrating as if they had just won a postseason game. A ninth-inning error by the Kansas City Royals turned what should have been a distressing New York loss into a memorable comeback.

Reliever Jeremy Affeldt threw away a potential game-ending double play ball, giving the Yankees the opportunity they needed. New York rallied for five runs on five clutch hits that followed the error, beating the Royals 8-7 Saturday.

"The bottom line is it's never over until the last out," said Derek Jeter, whose two-run single pulled New York within a run. "If you've done something before, you always think you can do it again."

New York, which remained tied with Oakland for the AL wild card lead, moved a season-high 16 games over .500. The Yankees have come from behind in 32 of their wins.

"I think when we saw that window of opportunity on the double play, we felt we had a chance," said Alex Rodriguez, whose single ended the game.

Matt Lawton, acquired from the Cubs earlier Saturday, relieved Affeldt and loaded the bases with a single. Tino Martinez, pinch hitting for Robinson Cano, then singled to cut the deficit to 7-4.

Jeter followed with a two-run single past a diving Berroa, Hideki Matsui flied out, and Gary Sheffield tied the score with a two-out double. Rodriguez followed with the winning single for the Yankees, who had just four hits going into the ninth.

TWINS 7, RANGERS 2 (11): Jacque Jones scored the tying run after a pinch-hit double in the ninth inning and hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the 11th as visiting Minnesota stopped a three-game losing streak.

Joe Nathan worked two innings for the victory, and hasn't allowed a run in 17 innings over 15 games since the All-Star break.

BLUE JAYS 2, INDIANS 1: Scott Downs combined with three relievers on a five-hitter to lead host Toronto.

Cleveland, which had won eight of its previous nine, managed just an unearned run and dropped one game back in the AL wild-card race.

Downs allowed a run on a throwing error by first baseman Eric Hinske. The 29-year-old left-hander, who has 1.75 ERA in his last four starts, gave up three hits, struck out six and walked two in six-plus innings.

ATHLETICS 12, ORIOLES 3: Bobby Crosby and Eric Chavez hit successive homers in a seven-run third inning as part of visiting Oakland's 15-hit attack.

Mark Ellis homered and drove in three runs, Jay Payton tied a career high with four hits, and Crosby had three hits and scored twice to help Oakland win. Joe Kennedy pitched five innings of four-hit ball in his first start with the A's since joining the team in a July 13 trade with Colorado.

TIGERS 12, RED SOX 8: Dmitri Young hit a grand slam as part of a five-run fourth and visiting Detroit rallied from a 6-0 deficit.

Down 7-5 after four innings, the Tigers added three runs in the sixth off doubles from Carlos Pena, Brandon Inge and Omar Infante. Boston starter Jon Papelbon then walked Pena with the bases loaded in the seventh for the game's winning run.

The Tigers' 17 hits in the game were one off the team's season-high, while the win snapped an 11-game losing streak at Fenway Park.

WHITE SOX 4, MARINERS 3: Jose Contreras pitched into the eighth inning and Jermaine Dye hit a two-run homer, leading Chicago past Seattle.

Seattle nearly tied it in the eighth, but Ichiro Suzuki was thrown out at the plate on Richie Sexson's double. Right fielder Dye threw to second baseman Tadahito Iguchi, who threw to catcher A.J. Pierzynski to just get Suzuki, who had walked.

[Last modified August 28, 2005, 01:24:03]

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